What is a False Religion? All Are False But Mine Says the Head of Bishops
The head of U.S. Catholic Bishops railed recently against other Bishops, branches of the Catholic faith and all other Christians who have a different take of what the faith is about than he does. He is Jose Gomez, Arch Bishop of Los Angeles.
One of my favorite authors summarizes Christianity this way: It's about sin. That is how Bishop Gomez summarizes it also. Catholic Bishops must not allow themselves to be concerned about the poor and disenfranchised, he says. Instead, they need to concentrate on babies born sinful and how as adults they need beg clergy for forgiveness. He didn't say this, but giving money would help make your case.
The Bishops who become interested in helping the poor don't understand they are being manipulated, Bishop Gomez reports. They have lost "the truth" that "...humans are maimed by sin yet called to forgiveness and healing." In other words, if Catholic clergy don't get off their high horses trying to help the poor and instead talk more about humans "maimed by sin" they are part of some false religion. This thing about being concerned for the poor is attractive, he points out. It just isn't as important as sin.
Catholics do not have a monopoly on the sin game. I remember reading right after the earthquake in Haiti some years back that Franklin Graham jumped in his plane and was soon preaching there. People were living outside and short on food and medical care. According to an article on the Christian Post site, I'm sure written by his publicity staff, a big crowd of homeless forlorn Haitians listened while Graham preached against sin. Handing our food and tents might have been more helpful but sin was more important to him. The same seems true of Bishop Gomez.
Bishop Gomez says Catholics taking on the causes of justice and poverty are no different than atheists. They focus on these earthly problems while not preparing the poor and forlorn for the paradise that awaits them in death. Clergy need to constantly remind the faithful all humans have a "common frailty... all are sinners." People must get their minds off of poverty and onto their salvation and luxurious afterlife.
Bishop Gomez is but one more in the unending line of Christians who know their version is superior to everyone else's.
atheism, of course, is true, absolutely and everywhere true. and we must get off the personal salvation kick and work for some kind of worldly utopia. in fine, it seems to me that the good bishop does have a point worth considering. maybe if we had more virtue in the world we wouldn't have to spend so much time and money cleaning up the mass. just saying.
ReplyDeleteJon, your summary on the article about Bishop Gomez appears to be twisted to be more about some unknown evil person.
ReplyDeleteI read the AMAC article. It's a good summary of an orthodox Bishop who does not resemble the man you describe.
It is understandable that every person believes he is right about his faith or lack, thereof.
In a sense I agree with Archbishoo Fulton Sheen in that every religion, even non-Christian ones, have some portion of the truth. Buddhism has its merits. Atheists can be in sync with divine truth at times in that they agree that theft and lies are detrimental to society, if not sins against God.
However, you totally miss the mark on what is most important to God. Even though not stated in the article I know the good Bishop knows the greatest 2 commandments; to love the one, true God and to love one another as we are all vessels of Christ. LOVE, not FAITH, is the center of Christianity. SIN, is not the focal point. LOVE, to the point of self-sacrifice, like Christ's passion and death, and subsequent resurrection and ascension, is what it's all about. Sin only serves to move us away from God so it must be avoided. It must be confessed.
oops. s/b mess, not mass.
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